Flexible coupling



, Dec. 27, 1927.

J. A. SMITMANS FLEXIBLE COUPLING Filed Feb, 14, 1924 Il fj Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

UNITED sTArrEs JOHN A. sivrrrivrANs, or rrrrsnunerr, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLEXIBLE ooUPLrNe.

Application filed February 14, 1924. Serial No. 692,688.

This `invention relates to couplings and more particularly to flexible couplings for transmitting a great amount of power.

An object of the invention is to `produce a flexibleL coupling for transmittingua great amount of power, which will `compensate for anymisalignment between the shafts to be coupled, which issimple and cheapto manufacture and which overcomes diiiiculties usually encountered in such devices.

A further object is to produce a coupling in which means are employed for eliminating to a large extent the friction between the moving parts of the coupling and in which simple and improved means `are employed rfor supplying lubrication to Athe moving parts. v

A still further object is to Iproduce an effective coupling for transmitting a `great amount of power in which the elements are so associated and arranged `asl to enable a shorter or more compact coupling to be eifectively employed than has heretofore been deemed possible.

These and other objects, which will appear obvious to those skilled in this particular art, l attain 'by means of my invention.l one embodiment of which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which :Figure 1is a top plan-view of a flexible coupling made in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3

is a cross sectionon the line 3 -3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4t is a cross section of a modified form of housing member `and Fig. isv a longitudinal section through still another form of housing member.

The illustrated embodimentof my invention includes two siibstantially aligned coupling members,'eacl1 of which is provided with oppositely disposed peripheral recesses. A U-shaped bearing shoe is swiveled in each of these peripheral recesses. A third coupling member, shown in the form of a cylindrical housing is provided with internal legs which engage the bearing shoes in the recesses in such a manner as to prevent relative rotation between the aligned coupling members but permit relative angular movement therebetween. (The bearing shoes being rotatable in the peripheral recesses permit the coupling members to oscillate about the swivel.)

'lhe two axially aligned coupling members and 11 are each provided with oppositely disposed .peripheralrecesses 1.2 and 13, the walls 14 of which are cylindrical .except for the fact thatthey are cut away at 14 )for a ypurpose to be described. rA Ufshaped bearing shoe 15 isrotatably'secured within each recess and screw 16 or similar device maybe used to prevent the shoes from falling 1out of the recesses during assembling ofthe coupling. The outer side faces 415 of each bearing shoe `are curved similarly 'to the inner cylindrical wall 14 of the recessand are so dimensioned as to form a snug sliding lit therewith, as shown in Fig. 1. The inner 4bearing face 18 of eacliiU-shaped shoe lis in the form of a convex curve, as shown in Fig. 2. i .f

r he two couplingmembers 10 and 11 are similar in all respects and a single descrip- `tion is sutlicient for both members.

gage the U-.shaped shoes and 'bear on the convex lbearingfaces 18 thereof. The bore 21 of the cylindrical housing member is suii'icient to allow each coupl'ing'member 10 and 11 to oscillate therein yto take `care of,

any misalignment of the shafts connected thereto.

Then there is a misalignment ofthe connected shafts, the rotation of the shaftswill occasion an oscillatory movement of at least one of the coupling n'iembers 10er 11 with `relation to the housing 19, andthis movement-will tale place in two planesi. e. about the axis of the cylindrical recesses 12 andll, and at right anglesto that axis. Relative motion between the housing 191and the coupling member, aboutthe axis ofthe .recesses will cause the shoes 15, `which straddle the lugs 20, to oscillate within 'thefoylindrical walls of the cooperating recesses about the axis of the recess; whereas relative motion at right angles thereto will occasion a sliding movement between the lateral faces of the lugs 2O and the inner engaging faces of the shoes and will also cause a'rocking movement across the convex face 180iE each shoe. It will be apparent that relative motion intermediate the defined planes would occasion a combination of the rotary sliding and rocking motion above described. The 

